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With many thanks to Kieran Devine stepping up to organise the event at short notice, the Shawford Down local event on Saturday August 15th goes ahead. See http://www.southampton-orienteers.org.uk/event/2009/08/15/shawford-down-local-event for more details.

Enjoy the views over the Itchen Valley, followed by a walk along the River, or perhaps a Beer in the local pub.

Any volunteers to help ably accepted, please contact Kieran. Details on the event page.

Something we thought could never happen took place on Saturday 20 June. SOC, in collaboration with the Hawthorns Wildlife Centre, inaugurated the permanent orienteering courses on Southampton Common. So that you understand what an amazing event this was, I must tell you about the history of orienteering on the Common.

[img_assist|nid=238|title=Opening of Permanent Course on Southampton Common|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=359|height=480]

Great introductory video of Orienteering:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drmwbZ_ntB8

Orienteering at its best:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMld5hMjTQU

Follow in Thierry Gueorgious footsteps:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YrNWVzdKGk

Try not to let it take over your whole life though! ;-)

...thats about all we know. I don't suspect we were last either, but until the results appear on the Wimborne site, we'll pretend we were 4th (they announced the top 3 on the day). 2 cross-country/urban, 1 urban and 1 cross country/urban map memory courses had to be run 3 times each by teams of 5 people. 

The team (as organised by Simon Whipple) was:

Simon Whipple, Matthew Whipple, Paul Whipple, Philip Eeles, Sam Massey

Firstly I would like to thank all those involved with the setting up and launch of the permanent orienteering course on Southampton Common, on Saturday 20th June. A lot of hard work was put in prior to the event particularly by Jean Velecky, ably supported by Gill Thomlinson and Philip Eeles. Secondly, thanks to Lin Hand and Andy Welch at the Hawthorn Centre and to Jon Dyer-Slade, Head of Neighbourhood Services at Southampton Council who kindly agreed to open it.

[img_assist|nid=202|title=|desc=|link=node|align=right|width=200|height=132]A new Permanent Orienteering Course has been set up on Southampton Common and will be opened and launched on Saturday 20th June. There will be information and guidance available and a number of different courses will be available to suit all ages and abilities. Start any time between 10am and 2pm from the Hawthorns Urban Wildlife Centre in the South East corner of the Common. Postcode SO15 7NN and Grid Reference SU417139. For an entry fee of £1 a map will be provided.

[img_assist|nid=196|title=|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=200|height=147]In the overall combined military and civilian results of this seasons Military League South series SOC have been very successful. Sam Massey came an excellent 6th overall and 1st civilian, Philip Eeles came 10th overall and 2nd civilian. SOC were also the civilian club winners, for the third year running, this time followed by SO, BOK and SN.

If anyone who has not already told me, wishes to run in either the JK Relays and/or Compass Sport Cup, could you please let me know ASAP.

Also I need BOF numbers & Emit numbers from anyone who has not already forwarded these. CSC is on 29 March at Tadley Forest.

Jane Morgan (01590 622144 or jane [at] morgantj.fsnet.co.uk (jane[at]morgantj[dot]fsnet[dot]co[dot]uk))